Battery filler



A. w. BORTZ BATTERY FILLER Dec. 20, 1938.

2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1938 I I V ed W 3020 5 A Z/r By pwm A i iorneys A. W. BORTZ BATTERY FILLER Dec. 20, 1938.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 1938 Inventor Aiigrneys Patented Dec. 20, 1938 PATENT, oFFica W mmnr mum I Alfred W. Bortz, Echo, Minn. Application February 15, 1938, Serial No. 190.669,

, comma.

The present invention relates to new and use-' tion is to provide a battery. filler of the afore-' mentioned character embodying novel means for mounting the device on a conventional container, such as a Mason fruit jar. Other objects of the invention are to provide a battery filler of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eilicient and reliable in use, compactplight in weight and which may be manufactured'at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of l the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein: I

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a battery filler constructed in accordance with the present invention.

t Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the invention, showing the device inverted for- Figure 7 is a perspective view of the lower end.

portion of the barrel.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the guide elements, showing same separated.

Figure 9 is a detail view in perspective of the filler or bushing through the medium of which the slidable valve is mounted on the tubularstem.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises. an elongated tubular barrel I having fixed thereon, at

56 an intermediate point, a resilient sphere 2 oi.

I horizontal section, taken suitable acid'resisting material. Mounted on the 'sphere 2 is a screw cap 3, also of suitable acid resisting mate'riahwhich is adapted to be mounted on a container 4, such as a Mason fruit jar. The container 4, of" course, is for the reception of the batterywatr as at 5.- The resilient sphere 2 has formed therein a circumferential groove or channel 6 for the reception of the screw cap 3, said screw cap having a centrally located opening therein accommodating said sphere.

Above the sphere 2, when the device is in inverted position, the valve I has formed therein a plurality of water intake ports 1. In its outer or lower end portion, the barrel l is further provided with water discharge ports 8 in the form of circumferentially extending slots. This end portion of the barrel l is also provided with vents 9 and H), the former being in the horizontal plane of the ports 8.

Mounted for reciprocation in the barrel l is a valve assembly which is designated generally by the reference numeral H. The assembly II in cludes a tubular stem I! which is mounted centrally in the barrel l in. spaced, concentric relation thereto, said stem being of greater length than said barrel. Secured on the lower end portion of the stem l2 in spaced concentric relation thereto through the medium of a filler or bushing i3 is a cylinder H which is slidable in the; lower end portion of the barrel I. It may bewell to here state that the tubular stem 12 is open at its upper end for communication at all times with the container 4 while said tubular stem is closed at itslower end, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The cylinder ll has formed therein ports I5 in the form of circumferentially extending slots for registry with the ports 8 in the barrel l. The cylinder I4 isfurther provided, between the ports l5, with a vent I6 for communication with the vents '9 and ill in the barrel I. Risingfrom the bushing I3 is an extension II. The vent. l6 extends through the extension I! and the tubular stem i2, as illustrated to advantage in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This construction and arrangement facilitates the drilling of the vent IS in the elements It and I! in one operation.

Fixed in an upper portion of the barrel l is a guide 20 having vertical slots 2| therein. The

stem l2 passes slidably through the guide 20. The reference numeral l8 designates a sleeve which is fixed on an upper portion of the tubular stem l2, said sleeve 18 including depending legs is which are slidably engaged in the slots 2| of II the guide 20. Also fixed on the tubular stern s, in spaced relation below the guide flyis a collar 22. A rubber covered coiFspring ll is mounted on the tubular stem I2 and has one end engaged with the guide III and its other end engaged with the collar 22 for yleldingly urging the cylinder l4 to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

It is thought that the operation of the inven;

tion will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. When the device is inverted ior filling a battery cell, water from the container 4 enters the lower portion of the barrel I through the ports 1 but said water-cannot escape into the cell for the reason that the ports 8 and I 5 are out 01 registry, as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings. When in this position air is free to enter the upper portion of the inverted container 4 through the registering ports I0, I6 and the tubular stem I2. With the lower end of the projecting cylinder I4 resting on the plates and separators of the battery cell, as at 24 in Fig. 2 of the drawings, downward pressure is exerted on the container 4 for sliding the barrel I downwardly on the cyle inder I4 against the tension of the coil spring 23 thereby bringing the ports 8 and I5 as well as the vents 9 and I6 into registry. The water is then free to fiow into the battery cell from the barrel I and air now enters the upper portion of the inverted container 4 through the vents I6 and 9 and the tubular stem I2. However, when the level of the liquid in the battery cell rises above the port 9 the water 5 in the container 4 becomes air bound and said water ceases to fiow to the battery cell as a result. When the device 35v is withdrawn from the cell the cylinder I4 is immediately projected'to the position shown in Fig. .3 of the drawings by the spring 23 for again closing the ports 3. It has been hereinbeiore stated that downward pressure is exerted on the container 4 to overcome the tension of the spring 23. Such pressure may not be necessary as the spring 23 may be of a strength to'be overcome by the weight of the container 4 and the water 5 therein when the device is inverted and resting on the plates and separators of the battery cell. The coacting elements I8 and 20 prevent rotation 01' the assembly II in the barrel I. The resiliency of n the sphere 2 permits universal swinging movement of the barrel I in the screw cap 3.

It is believed that the many advantages of a battery filler constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated anddescribed, itis to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A battery filler comprising a barrel having longitudinally spaced inlet and outlet ports therein, means for controlling the outlet ports,

collar fixed on the tubular stem,

a substantially spherical resilient member mounted on the barrel between the inlet and outlet ports, and a closure mounted on said resilient member and engageable with a'water container.

2. A battery filler comprising a barrel having longitudinally spaced inlet and outlet ports therein, means for controlling the outlet ports, a substantially spherical resilient member mounted on the barrel between the inlet and outlet ports, and a closure mounted on said resilient member and engageable with a water container, said resilient member having a circumferential groove therein for the reception of the closure, said closure having an opening therein accommodating the resilient member.

3. A battery filler comprising an elongated barrel having longitudinally spaced inlet and outlet ports therein, means on the el between the inlet and outlet ports for mount said-barrel on a water container, said barrel further having longitudinally spaced vents therein, a tubular stem mounted for sliding movement in the barrel, a cylinder slidably mounted in the barrel and fixed on the tubular stem, said cylinder having ports therein for communication with the outlet ports of the barrel, said cylinder and the tubular stem having a vent therein for registry with the first named vents, and resilient means mounted in the barrel and operatively connected with the tubular stem for actuating the cylinder for moving, the second named ports with the outlet ports.

4. A battery filler comprising an elongated barrel having longitudinally spaced inlet and outlet ports therein and further having longitudinally spaced vents therein, resilient means on the barrel between the inlet and outlet ports for mounting said barrel on a water container for universal swinging movement, a cylinder slidably mounted in the barrel and having ports therein for registry with the outlet ports, said cylinder further having a vent therein ior communication with the first named vents, a tubular stem fixed to the cylinder and extending longitudinally through the barrelin spaced, concentric relation thereto, said tubular stem being open at one end for communication with the container, said tubular stem further having communication with the second named vent, coacting guide elements in the bar rel and on the tubular stem for slidably securing said tubular stem against rotation in said barrel, a and a coil spring mounted in the barrel and encircling the tubular stem and having one end engaged with one of the guide elements and its other end engaged with said collar for yielding'ly urging the cylinder to a.

out of communication position in the barrel where the ports in said 

